JessK.

All ages!

I've played guitar and bass in many different live and recorded projects - 'The Army, The Navy' (indie folk group), Alex Lahey, Olivia Rodrigo, Rosie Tucker, Lily Meola, Grace Corsi...and many more. I also release original music under my own name - my debut and sophomore records ("Exotherm" and "DON'T BLINK!") were released on indie label New Professor.

I believe in music's power to sustain and affirm who we are as individuals, communities, and as a culture. Even in the face of great adversities in the music industry and beyond, I am relentlessly hopeful, and I believe in a more equitable world. This lies at the heart of my creative motivation: to create and teach music in ways that are joyous, life-long, and in pursuit of a more just and connected world.

My music has received coverage by Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, The Alternative, and other music outlets. During my studies at USC, I received the Faculty Scholarship Award, graduated Magna Cum Laude, and was awarded an Outstanding Senior in my department.

Hiking! Camping! Cooking! Climbing!

I teach Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Theory, and Songwriting up to advanced levels; and I teach Piano, Voice, and Production for beginners.

The Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)

Elizabeth Cotten

Nina Simone

Love and patience for the whole (messy) process of learning a new instrument. I like to break down the aspects of playing an instrument that feel intimidating and amorphous into approachable, concrete steps. This helps students build a solid technical foundation, and a healthy relationship to their craft.

I was fascinated by music from a very young age; at my own request, I began guitar lessons at age five, starting with Suzuki Method classical guitar. Learning an instrument by rote helped me develop a strong musical ear and intuition, and helped foster my curiosity to learn all kinds of songs and sounds. As I got older, I gravitated towards the electric guitar and other contemporary styles, playing in bands and jazz ensembles in and out of school. I relocated from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2014 to study Studio/Jazz Guitar and Songwriting at USC’s Thornton School of Music. Learning an instrument is a lifelong journey, and a practice I choose to cultivate everyday.

It depends on the day and how I want to play; perhaps I've got a Telecaster running through my pedal board into a Deluxe Reverb, or maybe my Mustang bass plugged into an interface, or my nylon string guitar on the couch.

Endless curiosity!

Stickers :)

With honor - I always enter a lesson with a child ready to meet them wherever they are. If they feel energized and confident, we follow that momentum. If it's been a tough day, we give those feelings space and allow the pace of our lesson to unfold from there. With patience - learning a new instrument takes time and consistency, but it doesn't have to be daunting! I break lessons into small chunks that keep up the momentum, always leading with encouragement and enthusiasm. With a little mischief! We are "playing" music after all, so it should feel playful! Improvisation, movement, exploring all the "weird" sounds we can make with our instruments.

Time (The Revelator) - Gillian Welch

I'm guided by community, whimsy, and relentless curiosity!

Rock, Indie, Alternative, Folk, Jazz